If you’re heading to the New Forest for a woodland break, you may not realise that just a few miles away is one of the UK’s prettiest seaside villages. According to Rough Guides Barton-on-Sea in Hampshire is one of the UK’s ‘best seaside towns’. With the accolade being given to all the seaside towns across the country that ‘offer everything from traditional fun to tongue-in-cheek kitsch’.
What makes Barton-on-Sea worthy of a spot on the list is the fact that the little coastal village, which is situated at the edge of the New Forest, boasts the most incredible walks, glorious stretches of beach, and an amazing look at ‘prehistoric marine life’, thanks to being rich in fossils. Barton-on-Sea is a cliff-top village that dates back to Angle-Saxon times and boasts miles of unspoilt coastline. The area also has a range of incredible water meadows and nature reserves to explore, and beaches that are home to an incredible collection of bright, colourful beach huts.
For anyone with a passion for the Jurassic period, this is the ideal coastal location. According to Rough Guides, the area boasts some fantastic fossil hunting locations, with previous finds going back as far as 40 million years. For anyone with a love of fossils, there’s a mixture of ‘preserved shark teeth, fish bones and gastropod shells’ to uncover.
This glorious stretch of coastline, which is located just nine miles away from New Forest, also features breath-taking views that span across the Solent, as far as the Isle of Wight. On a clear day, it’s possible to see the incredible chalk Needles and St Catherine’s Lighthouse in the distance.
The beach, which is a short 20-minute drive from New Forest, is also a great place to visit as it boasts a wide range of accommodation options. So whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly break or a more luxurious stay, there are a wide range of choices available.